Thursday, September 11, 2014

Fair Winds

Joe and I don't have a big family in RI but, we do have a few close friends and they're very important to us. Throughout the summer we caught up with nearly everyone but, were disappointed that due to conflicting schedules missed spending time with a few friends for the second year in a row. The summer in New England is so short. Simple Life was hauled in June for maintenance while she enjoyed a few upgrades and we provided lots of elbow grease and TLC after her nine month journey up and down the Atlantic seaboard. When it was time to relaunch it was nearly time once again to point the bow south!

Diane, John, Michele and Mike at the Dog Watch, Stonington, CT

Soon after departure from our home port of Pawtuxet Cove, RI on August 29, we were treated to a fine "last supper" as we traveled west down Long Island Sound. While anchored in the protection of the breakwater in Stonington, CT. family members Mike, John and Diane met with us at The Dog Watch restaurant on the waterfront where we had more than a few laughs and caught up on family ties and times past. I've always have fond family memories of summers spent at the beach house and the antics we got into while there.

Joe, pleased with our Hell Gate timing with Manhattan skyline

NYC and the Battery while heading toward Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Our trip down the sound was uneventful and relatively fast without the usual weather delays. Though things were about to change as we made the move from Port Washington, NY to Atlantic Highlands, NJ. We along with at least fifteen other cruising vessels have been staging in Atlantic Highlands since last Sunday! Weather as always turned against us and we've been holed up ever since. Heavy winds clocked to the east for several days with wind speeds in the high 20's. Seas were in the 5-7 foot range. Certainly, not conducive for a sail down the Jersey coastline. As a result we waited filling our time with boat projects, reading, playing some music and whatever else fills the day.

Ominous skys hover above Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Cruising from here to there aboard our home Simple Life enables us to make friends from all over the country. Our community resembles a floating old fashioned neighborhood where people greet each other and lend a hand if needed. I imagine it's because we're all "in the same boat."

Lawrence working on my bike

We recently caught up with friends Lawrence and Elaine from Elle & I in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. We spent a nice evening aboard their boat while Lawrence concocted his special version of Irish Coffee. The next morning I thought it would be a great time to take my new folding bike ashore for some exploration in the quaint, Victorian town. My bike has had one outing since coming aboard a year ago. The tires had gone flat! Before leaving RI I'd purchased one of the new tiny tire pumps. It didn't work...Our friend Lawrence from Elle & I is a bike expert. He offered his tire pump and expertise. It seemed we'd let the tire pressure get too low to accept the new pump I'd bought. After a short time everything worked as planned. The bike was put ashore and I was able to explore the shoreline bike path along Navesink Park. Once again our friends in our close knit community came through.

Michele happy to have the bike in working order

As of tonight there are over 20 boats staging for the offshore passage from Atlantic Highlands to Cape May, NJ. If we all depart as expected on Friday morning some will make an overnight passage to Cape May. Others will opt for a shorter stint to Barnegat Inlet or Atlantic City. As of this evening, Joe and I are not certain what we'll do. We'll make that decision when as we head offshore tomorrow morning.

Elle & I anchored in Atlantic Highlands, NJ withManhattan skyline in the background

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About Us

About me My husband Joe and I have been sailing together for more than 35 years. We began our sailing careers racing Hobie 16's and competing as a team for more than 10 years at the regional and national level. We have also competed single handed racing against each other aboard Sunfish sailboats enjoying the frostbite racing fleet in winters in RI and the regional and national level competitions in summer. In 1991 we upgraded to a cruising boat with the purchase of a 34' Irwin sailboat named Simple Life. In 2001 "new" Simple Life came into our lives. She is a 37' Island Packet. In 2003-04 we embarked on a yearlong sailing sabbatical aboard Simple Life and cruised from RI to the Out Islands of the Bahamas. During this time I authored a book about their experience as first time liveaboard cruiser titled "Leave the Shore Behind." Joe and I recently completed our round trip sailing adventure from RI to the Florida Keys and back in June of 2013. We plan to sail away again returning to the Bahamas in the in the Fall of 2013 to destinations in the little latitudes and beyond. Until then we are based in Rhode Island sailing the waters of Narragansett Bay and Massachusetts.